Gregg’s a sustainability champion

After 40 years of service, is about to retire, but he’s leaving a great legacy of sustainability within each of our facilities.

For many decades, Gregg has been the driving force behind several incredible initiatives designed and implemented by the Building, Engineering and Maintenance (BEMS) team to minimise the impact our health service has on the environment around us.

In 1980, a young Gregg began his career at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) as a wardsman, before joining BEMS in 1988 tasked with the role of changing the way waste was managed.

“We began looking strategically at how we managed waste in the hospitals well before any legislation was brought in, and in 1994 when legislation was established we’d already started making a difference,” Gregg said.

“Since then we’ve developed many solutions which have contributed to making RBWH the number one bench-marked hospital in Australia for waste management.”

Waste management practices championed by Gregg including, ‘Know which bin to throw it in’, which educates staff on correct waste segregation, have had significant benefits for the health service and earnt Gregg seven QUARRIE awards for innovation.

“I am proud to have initiated a waste safety program by introducing a sharps management team which have meant no needle stick injuries to staff for more than 10 years,” Gregg said.

“I also introduced the ‘tube terminator’ that destroys 600 light bulbs per month to reduce the impact of mercury going into landfill, and general waste compactors which save the health service $150 000 per year in waste removal costs.”

In more recent years, Gregg established new ways for water to be recycled from both the air-conditioning plants and Renal Dialysis Unit to water the gardens and lawns.

Gregg credits his passion for the environment and sustainability and his close friendships with workmates for his 40-year commitment to Metro North.

“I’ve always had a love of the environment and I’m passionate about sustainability and finding new waste management pathways. Why throw something away which can have a second use?,” Gregg said.

“I feel lucky that I’ve made a difference through my work. I love what I do and because of that it’s felt like more than just a job.”

In retirement, Gregg is looking forward to travelling throughout Australia and United Kingdom with his wife Jane over the next 12 months and to spending more time on his other passions.